Construction of an oxidative stress-associated genes signature in breast cancer by machine learning algorithms.

Objective: To construct a prognostic model of a breast cancer-related oxidative stress-related gene (OSRG) signature using machine learning algorithms.

Methods: The OSRGs of breast cancer were constructed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to analyse the gene expression and prognostic value.

Association between Urinary Lead and Female Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Previous studies have explored the relationship between serum lead levels and the risk of female breast cancer (FBC). However, it is still uncertain whether urinary lead levels are associated with FBC. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between urinary lead and FBC.

Structural basis for the self-recognition of sDSCAM in Chelicerata.

To create a functional neural circuit, neurons develop a molecular identity to discriminate self from non-self. The invertebrate Dscam family and vertebrate Pcdh family are implicated in determining synaptic specificity. Recently identified in Chelicerata, a shortened Dscam (sDscam) has been shown to resemble the isoform-generating characters of both Dscam and Pcdh and represent an evolutionary transition.

Adiponectin and the risk of gastrointestinal cancers in East Asians: Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Adiponectin is an important adipocytokine and has been associated with the risks of gastrointestinal cancers (GICs). Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis is needed to assess the causal relationships between adiponectin and GICs.

Methods: We retrieved the summary data of genome-wide association studies for adiponectin and six types of GICs in East Asians.

Deciphering the Oncogenic Role of VPS28 Modulated by miR-491-5p in Breast Cancer Cells Using In Silico and Functional Analysis.

Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 28 (VPS28), one of the four cytosolic proteins comprising the endosomal sorting complex required for the transport I (ESCRT-I) component, has been reported to be linked to various cancers. However, less evidence is available regarding the involvement of VPS28 in breast cancer. To this end, this study focused on exploring the function of VPS28 in breast cancer cells using the analysis.

Mechanisms of spacer acquisition by sequential assembly of the adaptation module in Synechocystis.

CRISPR-Cas immune systems process and integrate short fragments of DNA from new invaders as spacers into the host CRISPR locus to establish molecular memory of prior infection, which is also known as adaptation in the field. Some CRISPR-Cas systems rely on Cas1 and Cas2 to complete the adaptation process, which has been characterized in a few systems. In contrast, many other CRISPR-Cas systems require an additional factor of Cas4 for efficient adaptation, the mechanism of which remains less understood.

Altered Serum Annexin A2 Might Be a New Potential Diagnostic Biomarker in Human Colorectal Cancer.

Objective: Annexin A2 is a calcium dependent phospholipid binding protein that is a biomarker in cancers. However, the value of serum Annexin A2 in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is not clear. This study aimed to investigate clinical utility of serum Annexin A2 as a potential biomarker for CRC.

Five-mRNA Signature for the Prognosis of Breast Cancer Based on the ceRNA Network.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of ceRNAs in breast cancer (BC) and construct a new five-mRNA prognostic signature.

Methods: The ceRNA network was constructed by different RNAs screened by the edgeR package. The BC prognostic signature was built based on the Cox regression analysis.

Less expression of CD4 and CD8 T cells might reflect the severity of infection and predict worse prognosis in patients with COVID-19: Evidence from a pooled analysis.

This study mainly focused on the very serious COVID-19 epidemic situation at present and provided a new insight for the treatment and monitor of patients with COVID-19. Through this meta-analysis, we could draw a conclusion that less expression of blood CD4 and CD8 T cells count might reflect the severity of infection and often accompanied by a poor prognosis. Hence, we inferred blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells count could be a promising biomarker for disease assessment and monitor of patients with COVID-19.

Identification of prognostic biomarkers and drug target prediction for colon cancer according to a competitive endogenous RNA network.

Colorectal cancer is one of the commoner digestive tract malignant tumor types, and its incidence and mortality rate are high. Accumulating evidence indicates that long‑chain non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and protein‑coding RNAs interact with each other by competing with the same micro(mi)RNA response element (MREs) and serve an important role in the regulation of gene expression in a variety of tumor types. However, the regulatory mechanism and prognostic role of lncRNA‑mediated competing endogenous (ce)RNA networks in colon cancer have yet to be elucidated.

High WDR34 mRNA expression as a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with breast cancer as determined by integrated bioinformatics analysis.

The WD-repeat domain (WDR) family is distributed in the majority of eukaryotes and has several unique biological functions. It serves important roles in signal transduction, cytoskeleton assembly, protein transport, RNA processing, chromatin modification and transcription mechanisms. WD repeat domain 34 (WDR34) has been recently identified as a member of the WDR family.

Structural insights into the design of indole derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

Microtubules are composed of αβ-tubulin heterodimers, and drugs that interfere with microtubule dynamics are used widely in cancer chemotherapy. Small synthetic molecules with an indole nucleus as a core structure have been identified as microtubule inhibitors and recognized as anticancer agents. However, structural information for the interactions between indole derivatives and tubulin is sparse.

A Mendelian Randomization Study of Plasma Homocysteine and Multiple Myeloma.

Observational studies have demonstrated an association between elevated homocysteine (Hcy) level and risk of multiple myeloma (MM). However, it remains unclear whether this relationship is causal. We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to evaluate whether genetically increased Hcy level influences the risk of MM.

[Epidemiological analysis of malaria situation in Shuyang County, Jiangsu Province from 2004 to 2013].

Objective: To understand the epidemic situation and prevalent characteristics of malaria in Shuyang County, Jiangsu Province from 2004 to 2013, so as to provide the references for formulating effective strategies and measures of malaria control.

Methods: The reported epidemic situation and epidemiological data of malaria were collected and analyzed in Shuyang County from 2004 to 2013.

Results: Totally 31 malaria cases were reported with an incidence rate of 0.

Gardiquimod inhibits the expression of calcium-induced differentiation markers in HaCaT cells.

Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) is an important member in pattern recognition receptors families. TLR7 signal pathway is involved in the physiological process in many type cells, but the impact of TRL7 on differentiation in the human keratinocytes is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of TLR7 in keratinocytes, and the effect of TLR7 agonist gardiquimod on the expression of calcium (Ca(2+))-induced keratinocytes differentiation markers in HaCaT cells.

Interleukin 29 enhances expression of Toll receptor 3 and mediates antiviral signals in human keratinocytes.

Objective: Interleukin 29 (IL-29) is a class II cytokine and displays numerous immune functions other than its anti-viral and antiproliferation activities. This study is focused on the effect of IL-29 on human keratinocytes (KCs).

Methods: Primary KCs were stimulated by various concentrations of IL-29 for different time periods, and antiviral proteins and TLR3 gene expression were then analyzed by real-time PCR.

IL-29 and IFN-α regulate the expression of MxA, 2',5'-OAS and PKR genes in association with the activation of Raf-MEK-ERK and PI3K-AKT signal pathways in HepG2.2.15 cells.

Interferons (IFNs) can activate the PI3K-AKT and Raf-MEK-ERK signal pathways and induce antiviral proteins (MxA, 2',5'-OAS and PKR) expression in specific cell lines. However, the relationship between those antiviral proteins expression and signal pathways remains unknown at present. Thus our experiments were designed to determine the exact relationship in HepG2.

[N-acetylcysteine antagonizes the Interleukin-18-induced expression of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells].

Aim: To explore the effect of N-acetylcysteine(NAC)on the interleukin(IL)18-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and interleukin(IL) 6 in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC).

Methods: VSMC was stimulated with various concentrations of IL-18 for different times after addition of NAC(5 mmol/L) for 1 h. The messenger ribonucleic acid(mRNA) expression of TNF-alpha and IL-6 was measured by RT-PCR and the protein secretion of the two cytokines was determined by ELISA method.